Baked goods in some form or other are staples of Easter traditions across Europe. The Hungarians have fonott kalacs; Italians have colomba pasquale, and the English have their hot-cross buns. Here in the Czech Republic, the two classic Easter baked goods are mazanec and beránek. Apart from sharing some connections to other European customs, these two foods can lay claim to centuries of tradition. Long-lasting food Mazanec is a sweet, though not cloyingly so, bread filled with raisins and often topped with almonds. Beránek is a cake baked in the shape of a lamb. Many commercial varieties are covered in chocolate. The earliest evidence of baking mazanec apparently goes back to the 15th century. The noted Czech writer Magdalena Dobromila Rettigová later included a recipe in her popular cookbook, Domací kuchařka, (a Household Cookery Book). The tradition of baking lamb-shaped sweet bread extends even further back in time. It is claimed the Jewish people of ancient times prepared bread in the shape of a lamb. The basic ingredients of mazanec haven’t changed much. It is made from flour, yeast, milk and eggs. Rettigová’s version called for sweetened cream and grated lemon rind. Today, people add sugar, vanilla, and sometimes nutmeg, though...
Visitors to Prague Castle can now see the St. Vitus treasure and rare historical documents on display in the castle’s Riding Hall. The exhibition, titled Fragments of Memory, combines medieval artifacts with contemporary artworks, offering a reflection on the connection between history and the present. Among the most notable pieces is a half-meter-long golden cross, also known as the coronation or reliquary cross. Crafted in the mid-14th century under Emperor Charles IV, the cross was originally stored at Karlštejn Castle before being moved to Prague in the 17th century. It remains, after the St. Vitus Crown, one of the most historically significant objects kept at St. Vitus Cathedral. The cross contains relics associated with Christ’s Passion, including fragments of the Holy Cross, two thorns from Christ’s crown, and a nail traditionally believed to have been used during the crucifixion. Two medieval liturgical books are also on display. These include the missal of Jan of Středa, chancellor to Charles IV, and the gradual of Prague Archbishop Arnošt of Pardubice. Both manuscripts rank among the most valuable medieval collections in the Czech Republic. The exhibition features around 150 additional medieval and Renaissance items, including reliquaries, paintings, statuettes, and textiles. These are complemented...
Prague is preparing to introduce autonomous street-cleaning robots, with a pilot project set to launch in Karlín later this year. City officials say the trial will assess whether the technology can support or partially replace traditional cleaning methods, as municipal services face ongoing staffing shortages. If the trial proves successful, the program could expand beyond Karlín to other parts of the city. Local officials in Prague 8 have already expressed interest in extending the testing area to nearby Libeň. Prague has struggled for years to recruit enough workers for street maintenance, a challenge that has pushed city authorities to explore automation. Similar technologies are already in use in cities such as Barcelona and Valencia, where robotic cleaning systems have been gradually integrated into municipal services. The project is being prepared in cooperation with several public entities, including the Technical Administration of Communications and Prague Services. The latter has experience testing battery-powered equipment such as electric sweepers, robotic lawnmowers and modern waste collection vehicles. Karlín has already become a testing ground for urban automation. Since late last year, the delivery company foodora has been operating a small fleet of autonomous delivery robots in the district. These machines travel along sidewalks at...
Prague is moving to define where high-rise buildings can stand — and how tall they can be — as city officials prepare to approve a plan that aims to bring clarity to years of uncoordinated development. The proposed Metropolitan Plan introduces a clear ceiling for new towers: 100 meters. But such buildings will be limited to specific parts of the city, mostly outside the historic core. Under the new framework, taller buildings will be concentrated in areas such as Roztyly, Chodov, Vysočany, Bohdalec and Nové Butovice. Other districts — including Pankrác, Žižkov, Budějovická, Opatov and Bubny — will see lower height limits, generally ranging between 60 and 80 meters. City planners say the selection reflects two main concerns: preserving Prague’s skyline and avoiding conflicts with air traffic. The historic center, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, has long been a sensitive issue in debates over vertical development, with past proposals drawing criticism from conservationists and international bodies. Some locations have already been identified for the tallest structures. The plan allows buildings up to 100 meters near key transport hubs, including metro stations such as Českomoravská and Nové Butovice, as well as around Eden railway station. One project in...
The mission is intended to give Czech authorities their own eyes in orbit while boosting domestic ambitions to build more advanced satellites at home. The Czech Republic is moving ahead with plans to launch a new domestically developed satellite capable of delivering hundreds of images of the Earth each day for state use, in a project officials say could eventually help with everything from disaster response to transport monitoring. As reported by Echo24, representatives of VZLU Aerospace, the Czech national aviation and space center, and the European Space Agency have now signed the contract covering development of the AMBIC satellite, along with a universal satellite platform intended for future missions. The satellite is expected to be ready for launch in 2030. Once in orbit, the satellite is expected to capture up to 400 black-and-white and color images per day at a resolution sharp enough to identify objects the size of a car. It will operate in low Earth orbit at an altitude of up to 550 kilometers. Officials say the data could prove valuable to helping emergency services respond to fires and floods, and the imagery could also be used to monitor roads, railways, protected natural parks, and illegal dumping...
Easter in Czech cuisine has always been—and still is—a time for celebrating with special dishes and age-old traditions. If you’re in Prague this year, you can enjoy these festive flavors at some of the city’s top restaurants, each offering seasonal Easter menus and spring-inspired dishes. Easter at U Matěje Kotrby Since 2006, U Matěje Kotrby has built a strong reputation for quality ingredients and solid service. This Easter, the restaurant presents traditional Czech dishes with a modern touch. Chef Marek Šáda’s seasonal menu focuses on spring classics. It starts with rabbit terrine served with cabbage and herbs, followed by a creamy wild garlic soup with a slow-cooked egg. The main highlight is lamb confit with stuffing, spinach, and mustard jus, alongside a lighter option of salmon trout with kohlrabi and horseradish buttermilk. For dessert, guests can enjoy freshly baked mazanec, a traditional Easter sweet bread. The space combines old Prague charm with a more modern feel, offering a calm setting for those looking to experience authentic Easter traditions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by U Matěje Kotrby Restaurace a Bar (@umatejekotrby_restaurant) Easter at Restaurant U Pinkasů Restaurant U Pinkasů offers a special Easter menu from...
With the arrival of spring in Prague, the Indian Association of students in the Czech Republic (ISAC) is also welcoming the spring with the Indian festival of colours, Holi, to the city. This is an event organised by ISAC with the support of the Indian Embassy in Prague. ISAC was established with the vision of creating a home away from home for Indian students pursuing their education in the Czech Republic. Founded by passionate students who recognised the need for a unified platform, our organisation has grown to become the premier representative body for the Indian student community. With chapters in Prague, Brno, and Ostrava, ISAC has successfully organised numerous cultural events, academic workshops, and community service initiatives. “Holi is a celebration of welcoming spring, where the mood is to celebrate it with music, colours, and food with your friends and family,” said Prathamesh D, a student at Charles University. “I will be coming to celebrate this festival of colours with my friends.” This year, this festival will be held at Rohan Beer Garden in Palmovka, Prague 8 on March 28, from 12 to 6 PM. According to the organisers, “Holi as a festival, finds its roots in celebration of what...
The topic of publicly funded contraception has resurfaced in Czech political discourse after ODS MP Eva Decroix raised the issue on social media. She argued that health insurance coverage for contraception could prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the number of abortions. Decroix suggested that coverage could initially focus on young women and students, highlighting the financial barrier contraception presents. “Do you know that most abortions are performed by women who already have one or more children? Do you know that 84 percent of people support women’s right to decide about their own pregnancy? I believe contraception should be covered, at least in the first step for young girls and students, by public health insurance,” she wrote on Facebook. Currently, Czech women generally pay for contraception themselves unless prescribed for medical reasons. A three-month supply typically starts at around 400 CZK. Amnesty International Czech Republic has long advocated for contraception to be included under public health insurance. Health Minister Open to Targeted Support Health Minister Adam Vojtěch of the ANO party emphasized that public health insurance is primarily intended to cover medical care and treatment, rather than universal contraception. However, he expressed willingness to consider targeted support. “Where contraception is indicated...
A stage show inspired by the music and atmosphere of Frank Sinatra and the original Rat Pack is touring internationally, bringing a mix of live performance, humor, and well-known classics to audiences across Europe and beyond. Titled Sinatra & Friends, the production was created by Stephen Triffitt, George Daniel Long, and Mark Adams to mark the 100th anniversary of Sinatra’s birth. Get your ticket here All three performers previously appeared in The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas, a long-running tribute show that helped establish their reputations in this genre. Since then, they have toured internationally, performing a repertoire associated with Sinatra and his contemporaries, including Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. The show aims to recreate the style that made the Rat Pack popular in the mid-20th century, combining music with informal stage interaction and improvised moments between performers. The trio spent nearly a decade performing these roles in London’s West End and have collaborated with orchestras such as the BBC Concert Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Metropole Orkest. Reviews in British media have focused on the performers’ stage chemistry and their interpretations of the original artists. Critics have highlighted the group dynamic as a central element...
On Friday, April 4, in the Hrubý Jeseník mountains, one of the most beautiful observation towers in Czechia, Dalimil’s Lookout Tower, will reopen after the winter break. Visitors can now enjoy its stunning vistas until late autumn. Perched atop Větrov Hill at an elevation of 918 meters, the tower boasts a recent construction date, having opened in the summer of 2021. Its unique design, characterized by its isolation and charming appearance, has drawn comparisons to the tower featured in Disney’s Rapunzel. The lookout tower is made of cast concrete and stone and consists of two towers that are closely adjacent to each other. Their total height is 34 m, with the upper viewing platform at 28 m and the lower one at 17 m. 170 steps lead to the top. A restaurant and hotel apartments are located on the ground floor in an adjacent building. How to get to the lookout tower? The site is only accessible on foot. Motorists can drive from the Old Town to the parking lot in Velké Vrbno at the lower station of the cable car to Paprsek, from where it is 1.5 km to walk, or to the parking lot at the mountain hotel...
A year-long experiment in Prague has tested a simple question: what happens when people without stable housing are given money with no conditions attached. The answer, according to researchers, runs counter to common assumptions. In the study, 40 people experiencing homelessness each received a one-time payment of 100,000 Czech crowns. They were free to spend the money as they chose, without oversight or restrictions. Researchers tracked their progress over the following 12 months. The findings suggest that most participants did not spend the funds on alcohol or drugs, as is often assumed. Instead, many used the money to cover basic needs and secure housing. By the end of the study period, around 80 percent had found some form of accommodation, and more than half managed to maintain it. The project, known as New Leaf Czech, followed a total of 100 participants divided into three groups. In addition to those who received cash, 20 people worked closely with a dedicated social worker, while another 40 formed a control group with no direct support. Melanie Zajacová, who led the research and heads the Department of Social Work at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University, said the results were stronger than expected....
Prague will host the 18th Bulgarian Film Festival from March 25 to 28 at Lucerna Cinema. This year’s program features six recent Bulgarian films that explore contemporary society and human dignity, reflecting struggles familiar across borders. The festival opens with Birthday, directed by Ivaylo Penchev. Attendees will meet the director and actress Meglena Karalamba, setting the tone for a festival that balances drama with human insight. One of the highlights, Made in EU by Stefan Komandarev, examines the social pressures faced by the seamstress Ivy, who becomes a victim of public shaming. The film will screen on March 26 alongside a Q&A with Komandarev. The director will also introduce The World is Big and Rescue Calls from Everywhere, symbolically taking audiences back eighteen years and revisiting the winner of the Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The festival also explores themes of aging and memory. In Before I Forget, actor Ivan Savov portrays Stoyan, a man losing recognition of even his closest family due to illness. Savov reflects on the role: “Despite my age, I played someone whose life is slipping from his grasp. It’s a reality becoming more common. We should cherish moments with loved ones...
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